Optimal radio channel allocation in a distributed connection and transport network

Abstract

A method and system for optimal radio channel management in a distributed connection and transport network. The method includes the steps of determining the quality of service required by a communication session, determining whether transport resources are available for immediate use by the communication session, and queuing the communication session for assignment to transport resources in accordance with the quality of service required and the availability of transport resources for immediate use. The system includes a set of assignable transport resources, an interface for requesting a communication session, a detection processor in communication with the interface for determining the quality of service required by the session, a resource processor in communication with the detection processor determining whether transport resources are available for immediate use by the session, and a queuing processor in communication with the resource processor holding the communication session for prioritized allocation to the transport resources.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of providing a connection for a communication session, said connection consisting of a portion of a set of transport resources, said method comprising the steps of: 
       receiving said communication session;  
       determining a quality of service required by said communication session;  
       determining whether a transport resource is available;  
       if a transport resource is available, granting said communication session to the available transport resource;  
       if a transport resource is not available and a threshold is not exceeded, queuing said communication session in a primary queue for assignment to a next available transport resource; otherwise, queuing said communication session in a secondary queue for assignment to said next available transport resource; and  
       if a transport resource is not available and the threshold is exceeded and the quality of service is above a predetermined level, queuing said communication session in the primary queue for assignment to the next available transport resource.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of prioritizing said communication session within said primary queue in accordance with at least one of a quality of service level for said communication session and type of communication session. 
     
     
       3. A method of providing a connection for a communication session, said connection consisting of a portion of a set of transport resources, said method comprising the steps of: 
       receiving said communication session;  
       determining whether a transport resource is available;  
       if a transport resource is available, granting said communication session to the available transport resource; and  
       if a transport resource is not available and a threshold is not exceeded, queuing said communication session in a primary queue for assignment to a next available transport resource; otherwise, queuing said communication session in a secondary queue for assignment to said next available transport resource,  
       wherein the threshold is based on a maximum number of communication sessions allowed in said primary queue, and wherein said maximum number is a function of at least one of: the available transport resources in a particular network area, the available transport resources in any network area, a present number of other communication sessions being held in said primary queue at particular quality of service levels, and a measured quality of service from said transport resources.  
     
     
       4. A method for allocating transport resources for a communication session, said method comprising the steps of: 
       determining whether a transport resource is available;  
       if a transport resource is available, granting said communication session to the available transport resource; and  
       if a transport resource is not available, determining a maximum number of communication sessions allowed in a queue, and queuing said communication session in the queue for assignment to a next available transport resource if the maximum number has not been exceeded, wherein said maximum number is a function of at least one of: the available transport resources in any network area, the available transport resources in a particular network area, a present number of other communication sessions being held in said queue at particular quality of service levels, and a measured quality of service from said transport resources.  
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  further comprising the step of assigning a predetermined identifier corresponding to a quality of service level. 
     
     
       6. A system for allocating transport resources for a communication session, said system comprising: 
       a set of assignable transport resources within a communications network;  
       an interface for requesting a communication session using said communications network;  
       a resource processor in communication with said interface, said resource processor determining whether a transport resource within said network is available; and  
       a queuing processor in communication with said resource processor, said queuing processor queuing said communication session in a primary queue for assignment to a next available transport resource if a transport resource is not available and a threshold is not exceeded, otherwise, queuing said communication session in a secondary queue for assignment to said next available transport resource, wherein the threshold is dependent on a quality of service required by said communication session.  
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6  wherein said set of assignable transport resources further comprise discrete radio channels. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 6  wherein said set of assignable transport resources further comprise wire connections within a land-based telephone network. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 6  further comprising a detection processor in communication with said interface, said detection processor being able to determine the quality of service required by said communication session. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9  wherein said detection processor, resource processor and queuing processor further comprise software operating on a computer. 
     
     
       11. A method of providing a connection for a communication session, said connection consisting of a portion of a set of transport resources, said method comprising the steps of: 
       receiving said communication session;  
       determining whether a transport resource is available;  
       if a transport resource is available, granting said communication session to the available transport resource; and  
       if a transport resource is not available and a threshold is not exceeded, queuing said communication session in a primary queue for assignment to a next available transport resource;  
       otherwise, queuing said communication session in a secondary queue for assignment to said next available transport resource, wherein the threshold is dependent on a quality of service required by said communication session.  
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein the threshold is based on a maximum number of communication sessions allowed in said primary queue. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of assigning an identification code to said communication session, said identification code being indicative of parameters of said communication session and quality of service. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13  wherein said step of prioritizing said communication session includes comparing said identification code with identification codes of said other communication sessions within said primary queue. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11  wherein said transport resource comprises a discrete radio channel within a radio communications network. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11  wherein communication sessions within said primary queue are assigned transport resources before communication sessions within said secondary queue. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of determining a quality of service required by said communication session. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of indicating to a requester of said communication session that said communication session is granted when queued in the primary queue. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of prioritizing said communication session within said primary queue in accordance with at least one of a quality of service level for said communication session and type of communication session. 
     
     
       20. A method for allocating transport resources for a communication session, said method comprising the steps of: 
       determining whether a transport resource is available;  
       if a transport resource is available, granting said communication session to the available transport resource; and  
       if a transport resource is not available, determining a maximum number of communication sessions allowed in a queue, and queuing said communication session in said queue for assignment to a next available transport resource if the maximum number has not been exceeded, wherein the maximum number is dependent on a quality of service required by said communication session.  
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20  further comprising the step of, if a transport resource is not available, queuing said communication session in a secondary queue for assignment to a next available transport resource if the maximum number has been exceeded. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21  wherein communication sessions within said queue are assigned transport resources before communication sessions within said secondary queue. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 20  wherein the step of queuing said communication session in said queue comprises prioritizing the communication session in accordance with at least one of a quality of service level for said communication session and type of communication session. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 20  further comprising the step of determining a quality of service required by said communication session. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 20  further comprising the step of indicating to a requester of said communication session that said communication session is granted when queued in the queue. 
     
     
       26. A method of providing a connection for a communication session, said connection consisting of a portion of a set of transport resources, said method comprising the steps of: 
       receiving said communication session;  
       determining whether a transport resource is available;  
       if a transport resource is available, granting said communication session to the available transport resource; and  
       if a transport resource is not available and a threshold is not exceeded, queuing said communication session in a primary queue for assignment to a next available transport resource; otherwise, queuing said communication session in a secondary queue for assignment to said next available transport resource, wherein a communication session queued in the primary queue borrows a transport resource granted to a second communication session when a temporary loss of traffic is detected for the second communication session.  
     
     
       27. A method for allocating transport resources for a communication session, said method comprising the steps of: 
       determining whether a transport resource is available;  
       if a transport resource is available, granting said communication session to the available transport resource; and  
       if a transport resource is not available, determining a maximum number of communication sessions allowed in a queue, and queuing said communication session in the queue for assignment to a next available transport resource if the maximum number has not been exceeded, wherein a communication session queued in the queue borrows a transport resource granted to a second communication session when a temporary loss of traffic is detected for the second communication session.